On July 6, 2026, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) officially began the twenty-first cycle of releasing treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea. This cycle involves the release of approximately 7,800 tons of water with a total tritium activity of around 1.3 trillion becquerels. Since the first release in August 2023, Japan has sent more than 157,000 tons of treated water into the Pacific Ocean, and this cycle will exceed the threshold of 165,000 tons. According to the Japanese government's plan, the entire process is expected to take about 30 years and reach a total volume of 1.34 million tons.
At 11:41 AM local time on July 6th, TEPCO operators opened a discharge valve located approximately one kilometer offshore. According to the 2026 plan, which includes eight cycles with a total volume of 62,400 tons, this is the third release this year. The Japanese side repeatedly emphasizes that the total concentration of 29 monitored radionuclides is only 0.48 times the emission limit, and the tritium concentration remains below the domestic safety threshold of 190,000 Bq/l. However, critics argue: "All data are collected and evaluated exclusively by the Japanese side; the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) only participates in verification at a local laboratory; neighboring countries do not have the opportunity for independent and continuous real-time monitoring."
International reactions remain divided. The IAEA has long stated that the process is "in accordance with safety standards," but China, the most vocal opponent, insists on a complete ban. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly emphasized: "The Chinese side strongly opposes Japan's unilateral discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea." Based on customs regulation No. 140/2025, China continues to prohibit imports of food and seafood from ten Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo; products from other prefectures must have a certificate of conformity and are subject to random testing. The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment states that the results of its own monitoring of the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and domestic seafood on the market remain at background levels, but the import ban remains unchanged.
South Korea, Pacific island nations, and international environmental organizations, on the other hand, emphasize that "dilution does not mean disappearance." Technically, incidents such as a leak from the purification facility in 2024, a valve malfunction in 2025, and this year's brief interruption of the 20th cycle due to a storm have shown that even in the "routine" phase of release, thirty years of operation represents cumulative risks, and the world lacks an effective mechanism for joint insurance. The release cycle signals that the handling of Fukushima water is transitioning from a "controversial start" to a phase of "long-term normalcy." However, without independent international oversight, Fukushima water will continue to be one of the key disputes in global politics and environmental protection for decades to come.
Marie Liu